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Am J Perinatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2283-8843
Original Article

The Current State of Neonatal Neurodevelopmental Follow-up Programs in North America: A Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium Report

Vilmaris Quiñones Cardona  ‡   *
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Drexel University, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Susan S. Cohen  ‡   *
2   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
,
Noah Cook
3   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Mehmet N. Cizmeci
4   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
,
Amit Chandel
5   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University, Brenner Children's Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
,
Robert DiGeronimo
6   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
,
Semsa Gogcu
5   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University, Brenner Children's Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
,
Eni Jano
7   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
,
Katsuaki Kojima
8   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's, Cincinnati, Ohio
,
Kyong-Soon Lee
4   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
,
Ryan M. McAdams
9   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, American Family Children's Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin
,
Ogechukwu Menkiti
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Drexel University, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Ulrike Mietzsch
6   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
,
Eric Peeples
10   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Nebraska, Children's Hospital & Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
,
Elizabeth Sewell
11   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
,
Jeffrey S. Shenberger
12   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut, Connecticut Childrens, Harford, Connecticut
,
An N. Massaro
13   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
,
Girija Natarajan
14   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan
,
Rakesh Rao
15   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Maria L. V. Dizon
16   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
,
on behalf of the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium › Author Affiliations
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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to determine neonatal neurodevelopmental follow-up (NDFU) practices across academic centers.

Study Design This study was a cross-sectional survey that addressed center-specific neonatal NDFU practices within the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC).

Results Survey response rate was 76%, and 97% of respondents had a formal NDFU program. Programs were commonly staffed by neonatologists (80%), physical therapists (77%), and nurse practitioners (74%). Median gestational age at birth identified for follow-up was ≤32 weeks (range 26–36). Median duration was 3 years (range 2–18). Ninety-seven percent of sites used Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, but instruments used varied across ages. Scores were recorded in discrete electronic data fields at 43% of sites. Social determinants of health data were collected by 63%. Care coordination and telehealth services were not universally available.

Conclusion NDFU clinics are almost universal within CHNC centers. Commonalities and variances in practice highlight opportunities for data sharing and development of best practices.

Key Points

  • Neonatal NDFU clinics help transition high-risk infants home.

  • Interdisciplinary neonatal intensive care unit follow-up brings together previously separated outpatient service lines.

  • This study reviews the current state of neonatal NDFU in North America.

Keywords

hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy - neurodevelopmental follow-up - Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium

* These authors contributed equally to this work.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 22 January 2024

Accepted: 06 March 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
08 March 2024

Article published online:
05 April 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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